Searching for food.
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Does anyone else get frustrated with the search feature here on MFP? Am I the only one who feels the search results are bad? I hate having to wade through a list of irrelevant things. Anyone have any tips for reducing the frustration / improving search results?
For example: I search "zucchini" and I get:
-Chocolate Zucchini Bread
-Zucchini Bread with Walnuts
-Archer Farms Mediterranean Style Veggies
etc etc.
"Fresh Zucchini Small" is the FIFTEENTH item in the search list. It makes no sense.
You have to learn the right words to use. 'fresh' in the search often helps. so does 'generic' or 'whole' depending on what you're looking for.
Also: sort by relevance rather than by name. That'll do your head in otherwise.
And finally: the more you use mfp, the easier it gets. Most used items are stored ready for you to simply tick. it gets easier and quicker as you go along.0 -
How many people who are dieting actually measure out 100g of zucchini? Vs. how many people just buy a zucchini, cut it up, and cook it?
Counting without measuring?
Good Luck with that.
Measuring a zucchini?
How many cals do you think are in that thing?
You weigh cheese like it's gold, but zucchini, near enough is certainly good enough - and if you're choosing not to eat that zucchini because its calories will put you over your goal, you have lost entirely all plot whatsoever, about what healthy eating is all about.0 -
What I do when I eat particular fruits & veggies is type it in like blueberries grams or ounces. It might not be a hundred percent accurate, but I am sure it's harder with fruits and veggies if it doesn't already have a stated calorie count.0
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One of the important ingredients not included in the database is salt. I have been adding recipes and there is no listing for "salt". There's one for black pepper but not salt. I think it's very important to add salt to my recipes because I'm trying to watch my sodium count. Any suggestions or help is most appreciated.
Table Salt
You're welcome.0 -
Yes, I spend most of my day searching for food, then stuffing it in my mouth.0
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For fresh, raw foods, I usually add USDA. Sometimes you need to add the word "raw" if you are specifically looking for raw food because the USDA database also contains entries for cooked foods, so if I weigh my boneless, skinless chicken before I cook it, I want to make sure that I am not over-estimating due to water weight in the foods.0
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It's just like any keyword search-you learn how to refine your searches after a while.0
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I see no issues with the database.
Well, I would say that it is a little less than effective in some ways, but it's certainly usable. Learning little tricks like including "raw" or "generic" or searching by brand, etc, make a difference, for sure. It's kind of like following conversations on here without any notifications, or clicking on a link to view a comment - and just getting taken to the beginning of the thread. Truth be told, some of the features could stand some updating. But overall, it isn't anything that keeps me from being able to do what I'm trying to do.Yes, I spend most of my day searching for food, then stuffing it in my mouth.
This was my first thought, too. lol "Me too!"0 -
Does anyone else get frustrated with the search feature here on MFP? Am I the only one who feels the search results are bad? I hate having to wade through a list of irrelevant things. Anyone have any tips for reducing the frustration / improving search results?
For example: I search "zucchini" and I get:
-Chocolate Zucchini Bread
-Zucchini Bread with Walnuts
-Archer Farms Mediterranean Style Veggies
etc etc.
"Fresh Zucchini Small" is the FIFTEENTH item in the search list. It makes no sense.
Actually, I think it's the best search function and best database I've seen.0 -
I wonder if MFP would consider making 2 databases... one for specific, singular food items, and one for prepared things / recipes / restaurant items...
That seems like it would make the problem you're describing worse.
When you search any database, you need to choose the correct search terms. Searching for just zucchini should bring up all those other things.0 -
How many people who are dieting actually measure out 100g of zucchini? Vs. how many people just buy a zucchini, cut it up, and cook it?
And by the way they use 100g serving sizes to be convenient . So say i am eating a zucchini that is 256g i would plug in 2.56 servings of 100g
It makes it incredibly easy to log this way.[/url]
I was going to say something similar, but I choose the dropdown and set it to 1 gram, then add 256 servings! LOL
The point is, few people "measure out 100g of zucchini," but a LOT of them enter the exact weight of zucchini they ate.0 -
I lost who said this (sorry!) but:I'm finding that a lot of things are plural, so rather than searching for a russet potato, I search potatoes, and then find the options for Potatoes - Russet, and so forth - same for pears, bananas, blueberries, onions, etc.
Also, weighing into say - I like having measurements per 100g. As an Aussie, I cannot fathom how ounces work. It just... doesn't... :noway: Grams all the way!! Besides, as others have mentioned, how do I know what size I have in front of me is 'large' 'medium' etc? Especially when sizes are listed in inches?! I'm metric to my bones! :laugh: What I may consider to be a small serving of, say banana or cheese, may actually be a medium or large.
Measuring everything out and weighing back to 100g is dead useful for me. It gives me something to compare serving sizes and portions with. Cereal was the eye-opener for me. I thought I was having a normal size serving - turns it, it was close to double. Now, I weigh it out (not cup measurements, because often that's very uneven) and I'm finding I am eating more along the lines of how I should, portion-wise.0 -
Fantastic!! Thanks, that's a huge help!0
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How many people who are dieting actually measure out 100g of zucchini? Vs. how many people just buy a zucchini, cut it up, and cook it?
I can't answer for everyone but from what I've read many people do. I use to think it ridiculous to weigh food. Now I couldn't live without it. By far you can't get any more accurate the amount your eating. Sure there can be some inaccuracies in the data base but it is so easy to Google what you think is wrong to compare. I agree with what posters have said, being more specific really helps.
This is the USDA site that is very helpful. http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list
Once you start weighing food you see how off the calories can be for what a cup of this or that is. Most food labels have it in grams and that is the only way to accurately log your calories.0 -
Iodized salt comes up.0
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My issue with searching for food is the portion size.
I'll put in a food item and half the serving size. The only things listed are the actual portion size, 1 piece, or the whole package 48 pieces. Nothing listed for half the portion size.0 -
Counting without measuring?
Good Luck with that.
This.0 -
Have you tried adding in other descriptive words like raw or USDA? I find that helps narrow things for me, especially the USDA part.0
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Start search with "raw" when putting in fruits + veggies.0
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My issue with searching for food is the portion size.
I'll put in a food item and half the serving size. The only things listed are the actual portion size, 1 piece, or the whole package 48 pieces. Nothing listed for half the portion size.
Why can't you just put 0.5 for half a serving?0
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